By Patience Kapinda

Lilongwe August 1 Mana: Athletics Malawi will on Saturday host the senior and junior track and field regional championships across three venues: Chirunga Stadium in Zomba, Dedza Stadium in Dedza, and Thumbi ground in Mzimba.

According to General Secretary of the Athletics Association of Malawi, Nicholas Kanyenda, the championships aim to identify talent for the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 games scheduled for May 2025 in Namibia and the Olympics 2027.

"Our main objective is to identify athletes who will be competing in AUSC Region 5 games and Olympics 2027.

"We have put in place committees in each region to supervise the events and partnered with the Malawi National Council of Sports to ensure the success of the championships." He said.

Athletics Malawi coach, Limbikani Chiukia, expressed confidence in the team's preparations, citing targeted interval training and strength conditioning.

"We have focused on building our athletes' endurance and speed, and I'm confident that our team will be competitive, especially in the sprint events."  He said.

However, Chiukia acknowledged the challenges facing athletics development in Malawi, including lack of resources, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to coaching education.

The championships will also serve as a platform for exposure, allowing athletes to compete against top-level opponents and gain valuable experience.

With a long-term goal of identifying and developing young athletes, Athletics Malawi is committed to helping them reach their full potential and increasing participation in the sport.

The regional championships mark a crucial step towards achieving these goals and putting Malawi on the map in international athletics competitions.